Real-time multi-barcode reader for industrial applications

Iffat Zafar; Usman Zakir; Eran A. Edirisinghe

doi:10.1117/12.854645

4 May 2010 Real-time multi-barcode reader for industrial applications

Iffat Zafar, Usman Zakir, Eran A. Edirisinghe

Proceedings Volume 7724, Real-Time Image and Video Processing 2010; 772404 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.854645
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2010, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

The advances in automated production processes have resulted in the need for detecting, reading and decoding 2D datamatrix barcodes at very high speeds. This requires the correct combination of high speed optical devices that are capable of capturing high quality images and computer vision algorithms that can read and decode the barcodes accurately. Such barcode readers should also be capable of resolving fundamental imaging challenges arising from blurred barcode edges, reflections from possible polyethylene wrapping, poor and/or non-uniform illumination, fluctuations of focus, rotation and scale changes. Addressing the above challenges in this paper we propose the design and implementation of a high speed multi-barcode reader and provide test results from an industrial trial. To authors knowledge such a comprehensive system has not been proposed and fully investigated in existing literature. To reduce the reflections on the images caused due to polyethylene wrapping used in typical packaging, polarising filters have been used. The images captured using the optical system above will still include imperfections and variations due to scale, rotation, illumination etc. We use a number of novel image enhancement algorithms optimised for use with 2D datamatrix barcodes for image de-blurring, contrast point and self-shadow removal using an affine transform based approach and non-uniform illumination correction. The enhanced images are subsequently used for barcode detection and recognition. We provide experimental results from a factory trial of using the multi-barcode reader and evaluate the performance of each optical unit and computer vision algorithm used. The results indicate an overall accuracy of 99.6 % in barcode recognition at typical speeds of industrial conveyor systems.

Citation Download Citation

Iffat Zafar, Usman Zakir, and Eran A. Edirisinghe "Real-time multi-barcode reader for industrial applications", Proc. SPIE 7724, Real-Time Image and Video Processing 2010, 772404 (4 May 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.854645

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